The Fishing Daily Podcast – Series 06, Episode 04
The National Inshore Fishermen’s Association (NIFA) has issued a stark warning that Ireland’s inshore fleet is facing collapse due to a combination of soaring fuel costs, years of quota cuts, and what it describes as deliberate government policy choices.
Speaking on The Fishing Daily Podcast, NIFA Chair Michael Desmond and Vice‑Chair John Menarry outlined how many fishermen can no longer afford to go to sea, with several reporting that operating costs now exceed potential earnings.
Concerns Over Mackerel Quota Allocation
A major point of frustration is the recent allocation of 32 million euro worth of additional mackerel quota to Ireland, which NIFA says overwhelmingly benefits a small number of large RSW vessels. The association argues that more than 300 inshore members will receive no benefit from the decision. Under current quota management rules, only around 40 inshore boats can access the hook‑and‑line mackerel fishery, capped at 10 tonnes each, despite Ireland holding a national quota of 20,000 tonnes.
Years of Lost Fisheries and Declining Opportunities
NIFA leaders highlighted how successive policy decisions have steadily stripped inshore fishermen of access to traditional fisheries, including mackerel, herring, salmon, and bass. In the North West herring fishery alone, 1,500 tonnes of quota went uncaught this year while the inshore sector was limited to 350 tonnes. They argue that this is the result of systematic quota consolidation in favour of a small number of large pelagic vessels.
Fishermen also voiced concern that they have become almost entirely dependent on crab and lobster, while other potential avenues, such as the spurdog fishery, have been restricted for years due to EU rules that NIFA says were counterproductive to stock sustainability.
Fuel Crisis Driving Boats to Tie Up
The recent surge in fuel prices has pushed many small vessels to the breaking point. Desmond said he receives daily calls from fishermen telling him they can no longer afford to go to sea. Petrol prices for outboard engines have risen dramatically, and operators of petrol‑powered inshore craft are not eligible for VAT refunds on fuel. Marine diesel prices have also doubled for some, according to the fishermen interviewed.
NIFA argues that recent government fuel reductions did nothing for the sector, pointing out that Ireland excluded marine fuels from the measures while other EU countries moved swiftly to support their fleets.
Task Force Stalled as Crisis Deepens
The government’s seafood task force, which NIFA was told to engage with on financial supports, appears to be effectively paused. Meetings have been delayed, and NIFA claims that neither the chair nor the secretariat communicated these delays officially. The association says this leaves the fleet with no pathway for emergency assistance despite a worsening crisis.
Fishermen Say Coastal Communities Are Being Left to Collapse
Both Desmond and Menarry warned that Irish coastal communities are becoming “ghost towns” as boats sell up or sit idle. They argue that official reports claiming increased profitability in the Irish seafood sector do not reflect reality, because a large amount of imported seafood is being processed and sold as Irish while Irish‑caught landings continue to fall.
They also raised concerns about the impact of offshore renewable energy development, claiming that small‑boat operators are being pushed aside to make way for future wind‑energy plans.
Call for Immediate Financial Support and Reopening of Key Fisheries
NIFA says the solution is straightforward: meaningful financial support, reopening of closed inshore fisheries, and a fairer share of national pelagic quotas. Without swift action, they warn that hundreds more jobs at sea and ashore will be lost, further eroding Ireland’s food‑production capacity.